Graham Platner, a 41-year-old Maine oyster farmer, still holds a strong lead for the June 9 Democratic primary—yet new scrutiny over a decades-old tattoo and recent reports of sexual messaging threaten to slow his momentum against Sen. Susan Collins in a race
For the campaign volunteers packing into town halls and the supporters who say they’re voting for Graham Platner no matter what, the shock hasn’t been the existence of controversy—it’s the speed of it.
Platner. a 41-year-old Maine oyster farmer and political newcomer. is still expected to win the Democratic Senate primary on Tuesday. June 9. But his road to the nomination has been littered with fresh revelations: he said he covered a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol that he got nearly two decades ago. and less than a week before the primary. reports said he exchanged sexual messages with several women outside his marriage.
Karen Heck, 74, a former mayor of Waterville and one of Platner’s most loyal backers, said she will vote for him in the Maine primary on June 9. Heck said opponents—including Republicans and some Democrats—are attacking Platner’s character because they dislike his populist economic message.
“Whatever happened between Graham and Amy is personal business,” Heck said, referring to Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner. “They can’t attack his policies because they’re popular, so they’re going to attack him over and over again.”
The stakes extend beyond the Democratic nomination. Winning the race against Collins is a key priority for Democrats hoping to flip four GOP Senate seats and gain control of the chamber. Maine has voted against President Donald Trump in the last three presidential elections. and Collins has proven resilient. winning five terms despite credible challengers.
Gov. Janet Mills, 78, had been the presumed favorite in the primary, backed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. But Mills struggled to draw support as voters raised concerns about her age and wanted something new. Platner, running without prior political experience, helped galvanize Democrats who wanted a younger, blunter, more Bernie Sanders-style figure.
In the polls, Platner’s position looked strong enough to absorb shocks. At one point, he led Mills 64% to 26% and had more than $6 million in campaign dollars. Mills suspended her campaign in April.
University of Maine, Farmington political science professor Jim Melcher said Platner is still likely to win the primary.
“He has a prohibitive lead in the polls. There’s every reason to think he will still win,” Melcher said.
In the latest University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll—taken before the texting allegations came out—Platner led the Democratic field with 76%. followed by Mills at 10% and former deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment David Costello at 3%. Activist Andrea LaFlamme is a write-in candidate.
Mills has since said she will still be on the ballot. though University of Maine political science professor Mark Brewer said it is probably “too late” for her to win. Voting has already begun: early in-person and absentee voting started in mid-May. and Brewer pointed out Democrats have already returned ballots at particularly high rates.
He added that some voters who were planning to support Mills could defect as a protest, but it’s unlikely enough people would switch to overturn the lead.
“What does he win an outright majority and avoid a ranked choice runoff?” Brewer asked. “That would seem to be the absolute lowest bar.”
Even supporters who are committed to Platner say the real question now is whether the controversy curve keeps rising before the general election.
Amy Fried, a professor emeritus at the University of Maine, said she expects more to surface, citing past sex scandals. In a Substack post. Fried wrote that more could come through “the words Platner shared and any images associated with them. some of which might have. as the phrase goes. adult content.” She also wrote that women who were sexting with Graham Platner might be interviewed and that voters could hear how he was describing his relationship status.
The timing is already drawing attention. On June 4, The New York Times published a story based on interviews with several women who dated Platner in the past. One described his behavior as “unsettling,” and another said he was “toxic.” Platner has denied any allegations involving “physicality.”
The campaign, for its part, is trying to keep the focus on policy. Heck believes the allegations won’t change her vote, in part because she says she’s known Platner’s positions for years through her own work.
“I want those policies. I’ve fought for those policies for the last 34 years. ” Heck said. referencing support for universal health care. fair taxation and ending wars. “I don’t fear that Graham’s integrity and his commitment to the policies that he’s been fighting for is going to change. so my vote won’t change.”.
On the campaign strategy question—whether the political system itself has hardened or loosened—Brewer said the rules may have changed.
In the past, he suggested, Platner might have already passed whatever threshold voters consider disqualifying. But Brewer tied the difference to the last decade and to Donald Trump’s role in reshaping what politicians are expected to endure.
“If we were to go back to American politics of the not-so-distant past. I think any one of these probably by themselves would have been disqualifying. particularly. I think. for kind of progressive Democrats. ” Brewer said. “I think the rules have changed in the last 10 or 15 years. and it’s no coincidence that that’s the period of time that has been more or less dominated by Donald Trump. right?. Trump has changed the standards of what is acceptable for politicians and candidates for public office.”.
Melcher said there are parallels in how Platner’s supporters behave. Like many of Trump’s supporters, he said, Platner’s base is “ironclad”—deeply committed to the person—which can make it harder for new disclosures to break momentum.
That dynamic may be why the campaign believes it can withstand more than one hit.
In response to the sexting news. the Platner campaign said it saw its strongest fundraising of the campaign in the four days following the news. Ben Chin. Graham for Maine campaign manager. said in a statement that the campaign has been “deeply humbled” by support and loyalty. and that Mainers “understand what he stands for.” Chin added that the campaign is prioritizing lifting up working Mainers. and said. “And if there’s any doubt. just wait for the results on Tuesday night.”.
Platner has also said he has not considered dropping out. Speaking on MS Now. Platner said. “Since this campaign launched. we have been and remain deeply humbled by the support and loyalty of this movement. Mainers know Graham, they understand what he stands for, and they believe in what this campaign is fighting for.”.
Behind that confidence sits a political reality: even if Platner wins the primary. Maine law makes a withdrawal possible but not automatic. A candidate can withdraw their name from the nomination by the second Monday in July. and a political committee would then make a replacement nominee for the general election. But the law requires the candidate to choose to withdraw.
For now, Platner is moving toward Tuesday night with heavy poll numbers and a political calendar that doesn’t pause for scandal.
Democrats and Republicans both know what comes next. Collins has been a tough opponent before. including in 2020 when she defeated Democrat Sara Gideon by nearly as much as her opponent’s loss came after Biden won Maine by nine points. In midterm years. voters often punish the president’s party. and Brewer said Trump’s job approval rating is at 38% based on an aggregate of polls by The New York Times. Gas prices have also risen since Trump took office, which could make it harder for Republicans to miss their chance.
Polling from before the sexting allegations gave Platner a head start against Collins. The UNH poll found Platner beating Collins 51% to 42%. A UMass Lowell poll released June 4 found him ahead 48% to 43%.
Collins did not respond to a request for comment by time of publication. She told CBS 13 News she was “troubled” by the latest allegations.
Andy Smith. director of the UNH Survey Center. suggested that if nothing else comes out. “time heals all wounds.” As the general election approaches. he said. partisanship ramps up and voters return to their home base—an effect he expects could be especially strong in Maine. where Democrats are hungry to defeat Collins.
Brewer said the threshold for a tipping point may still be unforgiving, even if the party system has grown more tolerant.
“This is going to be a tight race,” he said. “If Platner could do one thing to improve his chances, it would be to get rid of these controversies, but he can’t do that.”
Older women could play a decisive role in the electorate. Fried’s warning about potential further disclosures underscores that there may be more material for opponents to use, and Heck acknowledged she is watching the dynamics closely—without changing her vote.
Heck said Platner is still packing town halls and that his message continues to appeal broadly.
“Susan Collins is a disaster for the state,” Heck said. “If people are paying attention to a little bit bigger picture, I think the momentum will stay.”
Whether that momentum holds through Tuesday night—and survives whatever comes next—will likely depend on the same thing voters keep returning to in every political scandal: not just what’s been revealed, but how many people decide to believe the story is over before the election is.
Maine Senate primary Graham Platner Susan Collins sexting allegations tattoo controversy Karen Heck Janet Mills Chuck Schumer ranked choice runoff U.S. Senate control